New Tilt-shifts on the horizon?We’ve received reports that new tilt-shift lenses are being tested. The 45mm and 90mm have both been on the replacement clock for some time now, basically since the 17mm and 24mm tilt-shift lenses were released.

We’re told that the new lenses are scheduled to appear in early 2014 with a possible announcement shortly have Christmas.

A separate person has suggested a macro tilt-shift lens could also be on the distant horizon.

No blur. The point is of course to be able to align the focal plane with the subject. That is the primary use, along with perspective control, of a TS lens.

+1. By using the TILT function and tilting the plane of focus into the subject plane, a deeper DOF is achieved from front to back. This is good news for macro enthusiasts who want to achieve a deeper depth of field without having to resort with the image stacking technique in post processing.

No blur. The point is of course to be able to align the focal plane with the subject. That is the primary use, along with perspective control, of a TS lens.

+1. By using the TILT function and tilting the plane of focus into the subject plane, a deeper DOF is achieved from front to back. This is good news for macro enthusiasts who want to achieve a deeper depth of field without having to resort with the image stacking technique in post processing.

Only if the subject is two dimensional, after all tilting doesn't increase dof, it just moves the plane of focus. For instance the ubiquitous fly's eye macro image would gain nothing from tilting.

I am not saying Canon can't or won't do it, they do love their tilt, and macro lenses and combining them would be yet another "because we can" 17mm TS-E moment, but I highly doubt it. Apart from the above mentioned practical use with three dimensional objects there is the MAJOR issue of the J distance and the tilt angle needed at macro distances.

This all falls into the area of Harold Merklinger and his seminal work "How To Focus The View Camera", Everybody, normally with a "knowledgeable" smile, talks of Scheimpflug and his principle, but the really useful guy for us as photographers is Merklinger and his J Point and Hinge Line. See here for a couple of cool gif's and more info http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/article_pages/using_tilt.html

Basically the longer the focal length the more tilt you need for the same effect, AND, and this is the really important bit for a potential macro tilt lens use, the closer the camera is to the plane of focus the more tilt you need. Bear in mind a 90mm TS-E needs 36º of tilt with a J distance of 6", current Canon T/S lenses have 8º of tilt.

Logged

Too often we lose sight of the fact that photography is about capturing light, if we have the ability to take control of that light then we grow exponentially as photographers. More often than not the image is not about lens speed, sensor size, MP's or AF, it is about the light.

Insightful post, PBD...but you're missing the big picture. It's not just a 'because we can' moment - it's one more small step on the road to the EF TS 12-400mm f/2L Macro IS Pancake lens we all want.

There is no way I'd get that if it was only f2! It has to be at least f1.8 (have I drifted off into the 135 threads?), but better yet a 1.4, oh and it needs to be lighter then the 70-200 f2.8 IS. Trouble is if Canon did come out with a EF TS 12-400mm f/2L Macro IS Pancake they'd try and rip us all off, I wouldn't pay any more than $2,000 for one, after all you can get a Tamron 18-270 for $500. [/irony]

Logged

Too often we lose sight of the fact that photography is about capturing light, if we have the ability to take control of that light then we grow exponentially as photographers. More often than not the image is not about lens speed, sensor size, MP's or AF, it is about the light.

But on a slightly more serious note, and thanks for the compliment Neuro, I wonder if 8º, or close to it, is a bit of a limit with the design of the mirror box and the 44mm flange distance. I know there are severe tilt restrictions when using DSLR's on adapters for field cameras due to the shadowing of the mirror tunnel on the sensor.

Logged

Too often we lose sight of the fact that photography is about capturing light, if we have the ability to take control of that light then we grow exponentially as photographers. More often than not the image is not about lens speed, sensor size, MP's or AF, it is about the light.

Basically the longer the focal length the more tilt you need for the same effect, AND, and this is the really important bit for a potential macro tilt lens use, the closer the camera is to the plane of focus the more tilt you need. Bear in mind a 90mm TS-E needs 36º of tilt with a J distance of 6", current Canon T/S lenses have 8º of tilt.

That simulator is very cool, I haven't seen it before, excellent link, thanks.

Logged

Too often we lose sight of the fact that photography is about capturing light, if we have the ability to take control of that light then we grow exponentially as photographers. More often than not the image is not about lens speed, sensor size, MP's or AF, it is about the light.